Abstract
Fully ripe fruits and mature leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia were harvested and analyzed by means of analytical and biological tests to better comprehend the chemical composition and therapeutic/nutraceutical potential of this plant. Fruits and leaves were dried and the obtained powders were analyzed to study their color character and (via headspace gas chromatography) describe the chemical profile. Subsequently, they were submitted to a chloroform–methanol extraction, to a hydroalcoholic extraction procedure assisted or not by microwaves, and to an extraction with supercritical CO2, assisted or not by ethanol as the co-solvent, to detect the polyphenolic and the volatile content. The resulting extracts were evaluated in terms of chlorophyll and carotenoid content, polyphenolic content, volatile fraction, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, radical scavenging activity, and enzymatic inhibition activity. The results confirmed the correlation between the chemical composition and the high antioxidant potential of leaf extracts compared to the fruit extracts in terms of the phenolic and pigment content. A promising effect against tyrosinase emerged for all the extracts, suggesting a therapeutic/nutraceutical use for this plant. Conversely, the volatile content from both natural matrices was similar.
Highlights
Elaeagnus angustifolia L., known as the oleaster or Russian olive, is a riparian bush native to Southern Europe and Western Asia and belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family, which comprises about50 species
Anticancer properties and radical scavenging activity are attributed to flavonoids and pro anthocyanosides extracted from Elaeagnus angustifolia [3]
The present work aimed to compare the effect of different extraction techniques, performed on dried whole fruits (F series) and leaves (L series) of Elaeagnus angustifolia, in relation to the chemical composition of the obtained extracts. (Figure 1)
Summary
Elaeagnus angustifolia L., known as the oleaster or Russian olive, is a riparian bush native to Southern Europe and Western Asia and belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family, which comprises about50 species. The edible fruits, consumed fresh or dried, are a rich source of vitamins such as tocopherol, vitamin C, B1, and α-carotene, as well as minerals (potassium, sodium, and phosphorous) [2], and have traditionally been used in folk medicine for their analgesic, antipyretic, and diuretic activities, whereas the seeds are used for the extraction of an oil rich in polyphenols and other antioxidant molecules. The proven relationship between oxidative stress and human diseases had led to increasing interest in polyphenol- and flavonoid-containing extracts, such as those derived from Elaeagnus angustifolia leaves and fruits. Literature data reported the presence in oleaster fruits and pulp of phenolic acids, mainly represented by p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic and protocatechuic acid [5], differently glycosylated isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol derivatives, and catechins [3,4]; the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of leaves and flowers were evaluated, showing higher contents in the ethanol extracts from leaves [6]. Anticancer properties and radical scavenging activity are attributed to flavonoids and pro anthocyanosides extracted from Elaeagnus angustifolia [3]
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